Brothers in arms march for cause

Published Oct. 16, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Five states, 12 men, 13 batons, 24 pairs of boots, 600 pounds carried, more than 800 miles traveled all for one cause - honoring special tactics Airmen who sacrificed their lives in combat.

Special tactics Airmen from Hurlburt Field, and across the special operations forces community, embarked on a 10-day memorial rucksack march from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to Hurlburt Field, Fla. The journey was especially poignant for these Airmen who marched in the memory of Staff Sgt. Timothy Davis who was killed in Afghanistan in February while serving as a member of the 23rd Special Tactics squadron here.

Hundreds of members from Team Hurlburt lined the streets leading up to the Special Tactics Training Complex to honor Sergeant Davis and support the marchers as they entered the home stretch of the trek.

"It's amazing that these guys could march that far with 50 pound ruck sacks," said Senior Airman Jasmine Davis, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron. "It made me really proud to see them marching through the gate."

"We didn't expect it to be this formal," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Carter, a 23rd Special Tactics combat controller and best friend to Sergeant Davis. "It was nice to see all the support."

The two 12-man teams also marched to raise awareness and support for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college educations to the surviving children of all branches of special operations personnel killed in combat or training. Additionally, the Warrior Foundation provides immediate financial assistance to special operations personnel severely wounded in overseas contingency operations.

"When we lose somebody, it's like losing a brother," said Wayne Norrad, a retired combat controller and board member of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. "Most of our guys have families ... and we want to let our fallen brothers' family members know we will always take care of his children, and that (the fallen man's family) are always part of the brotherhood."

"Tim Davis' child will have an opportunity to go to college," Mr. Norrad said.

According to www.specialops.org, 336 Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine special operations forces members have been killed in action, leaving behind 384 children.

Loved ones, friends and comrades of the fallen Airmen met the memorial marchers at their final destination, where they presented the batons to Lt. Col. Steve Spanovich, Special Tactics Training Squadron commander.

Sergeant Davis' baton was carried by Sergeant Carter and Sergeant Davis' family was there to escort the baton as it was presented to Colonel Spanovich.

"Timmy was my best friend and I just wanted to give him something back," Sergeant Carter said. "Rucking was something he loved to do and I felt like this was the best way to honor him and everyone else who has fallen as well. He [Sergeant Davis] would have loved this. He would've been the guy at the front the whole time telling everyone to hurry up."